I was going to say this was remarkably logical and apolitical coming from Neil deGrasse Tyson but if he has recanted instead of allowing the facts to speak for himself he is not any different than I thought. Bill Nye probably told him shush.
Neil deGrasse Tyson
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JTHunter
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That is because these accidents aren't "sensational enough", unless it is a major collision like a wrong-way driver hitting a school bus head on.
Sistema1927
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Don't you know that feelings now trump facts?
Of course, that has been the battle plan of those who wish to disarm Americans all along. They don't want to be bothered by those uncomfortable facts, so they play on the emotions. It is also why they are so quick to dance in the blood of the victims when the narrative suits their agenda, and so quick to sweep those things under the carpet that don't suit their purposes. This is why Chicago is not on their radar.
At the same time, how many major news outlets have reported that the Dayton shooter was a Satanist, Elizabeth Warren lover, DJT hater, and called for "Socialism now!"? Very few. Yet, they have been quick to jump on anything about the El Paso shooter that helps them. Despicable.
cjwils
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I am not sure that he actually recanted. His response was repeated on Vox.com as shown below. He seems to be apologizing only for not knowing in advance how some would respond to his first tweet.
“My intent was to offer objectively true information that might help shape conversations and reactions to preventable ways we die,” Tyson wrote in a statement posted on Facebook on Monday. “Where I miscalculated was that I genuinely believed the tweet would be helpful to anyone trying to save lives in America. What I learned from the range of reactions is that for many people, some information — my tweet in particular — can be true but unhelpful, especially at a time when many people are either still in shock, or trying to heal — or both.
“So if you are one of those people, I apologize for not knowing in advance what effect my tweet could have on you. I am therefore thankful for the candor and depth of critical reactions shared in my Twitter feed,” he said.
“My intent was to offer objectively true information that might help shape conversations and reactions to preventable ways we die,” Tyson wrote in a statement posted on Facebook on Monday. “Where I miscalculated was that I genuinely believed the tweet would be helpful to anyone trying to save lives in America. What I learned from the range of reactions is that for many people, some information — my tweet in particular — can be true but unhelpful, especially at a time when many people are either still in shock, or trying to heal — or both.
“So if you are one of those people, I apologize for not knowing in advance what effect my tweet could have on you. I am therefore thankful for the candor and depth of critical reactions shared in my Twitter feed,” he said.
When feelings are raw it can be best to wait a little bit before pointing out the hard truths, but he told those hard truths and it didn't fit the group think narrative.
herrwalther
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Tyson has far more professional accolades than Bill Nye. Nye has a BS in mechanical engineering. Tyson has a Masters and PhD. Nye is a scientist like Dr. Phil is a psychologist. (Both aren't)
Basura Blanca
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Recanting was smart simply for the sake of his own personal safety. JMO.
Beyond this and Tyson though, I think there's a teachable moment here regarding how we talk to the uninitiated. Trust me, non-gun people, even neutral types, really don't want to hear a litany of statistics or legalese when it comes to the topic. I find it better to just let others say what they feel and maybe, depending on situation, correct something simple that can be expressed without getting all pedantic and technical to them. Generally though, I don't talk about guns in real life.
Beyond this and Tyson though, I think there's a teachable moment here regarding how we talk to the uninitiated. Trust me, non-gun people, even neutral types, really don't want to hear a litany of statistics or legalese when it comes to the topic. I find it better to just let others say what they feel and maybe, depending on situation, correct something simple that can be expressed without getting all pedantic and technical to them. Generally though, I don't talk about guns in real life.
Phaedrus/69
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Yet Nye is far more accomplished at achieving actual science! Don't let his letters fool you, he's a genuine scientist! No need to tear him down to build up NDT.
In this instance Tyson was factually correct but socially clueless. You don't walk up to a mourner at a funeral and point out that the deceased actually lived 4.1 years beyond his expected life span! Telling the family of those killed by a mass murderer that people also die in car wrecks is bizarre and unhelpful, even if it's correct.
herrwalther
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We are going to fundamentally disagree on that point.
It wasn't at a funeral. It is Twitter. He didn't shove the stats in anyone's face. There are block, mute, and unfollow buttons if he was that "offensive" to those suffering from tiny heart syndrome.
Phaedrus/69
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That was an analogy, sorry for any confusion. I guess it's just a case of go ahead and live your life. Twitter is mostly for imbeciles so I'll leave them to it.
mokin
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Thanks for posting that. I wondered what he said.
I added the bold. Monday I was talking to a kindergarten teacher about varmint control. She admitted she is wary of who she talks to about guns with.
These two posts made me think of some sort of off kilter Vulcan. They've rejected any spiritual values as a moral compass but on the other hand, they reject science in favor of social acceptance. For many, the acceptance occurs online rather than direct face-to-face interactions.
I get the feeling that many of the people who should have hit the "block" button would rather hide in the anonymity of the internet rather than truly self advocate. They would rather shout their opponent down than engage in a meaningful discussion regarding what offended them.
Phaedrus/69
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I think it's that NDT seems to land almost on the Asperger's spectrum sometimes. When people get murdered it's not socially helpful to minimize their deaths or change the subject to other deaths unrelated to the subject at hand. Sometimes "I'm sorry for your loss" or "what a tragic loss" are more appropriate than "a bunch of people died of cancer". Of course, maybe I'm the socially awkward one here and there's no reason for empathy or compassion in the burned out shell of this country.
He's said a lot if off kilter things, esp. On his "talk show". It was tone deaf and not especially useful to either side of the pro/anti gun debate.
Trunk Monkey
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It's his fault Pluto isn't a planet anymore
JTHunter
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While Tyson's pedigree and accomplishments are commendable, he can be a bit "preachy" at times. When PBS redid "Cosmos" a few years ago with Tyson as Carl Sagan's replacement (he failed !), the shows were more PC with more "earth science" (recycling, climate change, etc.) than astronomy and astrophysics, I was disappointed in both the remake AND the host.
theotherwaldo
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True scientists are often socially tone deaf because science is socially tone deaf.
Science is supposed to deal in facts, not emotions.
Science is supposed to deal in facts, not emotions.
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